Chairperson, I agree with some of the issues raised by members in terms of underfunding for the department. With regard to the Integrated Resource Plan 1, IRP1, the department briefed us. They apologised to the committee for not informing us on time.
The Integrated Resource Plan 2, IRP2, was supposed to be discussed by the committee in June, but due to the World Cup it has been changed to July. Hon Greyling wrote a letter to me to which I responded and said that we were waiting to put that on the committee's programme. I am sure that he likes to grandstand in any way.
If we are serious about renewable energy in terms of the challenges of climate change, we would support this Budget Vote. We believe that what is in the strategic plan talks exactly to what he is raising. As members, we were able to engage the department. We stated our disagreements with them. At the end of the day, we said that we will do our oversight work and make sure that they deliver according to the strategic plan.
In this regard, as a country we are forced to deal with renewable energy. With this budget we believe that they will try to do what they can. It was said in the committee that they will try to do more with the little money that they have. This is a new department; we need to give them space.
With regard to what the President has mentioned about the Independent Power Projects, IPPs, they are going to deal with that. We hope that we will be able to take them forward and do oversight work on whether or not they have done so. The energy that members have is good, but we must be able to exercise it in the right way. We support the Budget Vote. [Applause.]
Vote agreed to (Congress of the People and Independent Democrats dissenting).
Vote No 29 - Environmental Affairs - put and agreed to.
Vote No 30 - Human Settlements - put and agreed to.
Vote No 31 - Mineral Resources - put.
Declarations of vote: